Combined cover press and strapper



Feb. 20, 1934.

H. P AXTON 1,947,918

COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed Oct. 5. 1931 e Sheets-Sheet 1Feb. 20, 1934. H, PAXTON 1,947,918

COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAFPERY Filed 001:. '3. 1951 e Sheets-Sheet 2Hale Paxifofi;

ATTORZVHT Feb. 20, 1934. H. PAXTON COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPERFiled Oct. 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet a Jzvvmok 1 ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1934.PAXTQN COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed bet. 5. 1931 6Sheets-Sheefi l H. PAXTON COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Feb. 20,1934.

Filed Oct. 5. 1931" 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 flale Paxton.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. PAxToN COMBINED COVER PRESS AND STRAPPER Filed Oct.3. 1931.

' Feb. 20, 1934.

l mm 4 ATTORZWYT .igl

vlrvnrlllllili. nlllllllllll Patented Feb. 20, 1934 COMBINED COVER mussAND SYTRAPPER Hale Paxton, Redlands, Calif., assignor to Paxton CreditCorporation, Sanger, Calif., a corporation of Califorma ApplicationOctober 3, 1931. Serial No. 566,823

21 Claims. (Cl. 140-93) My invention relates to strapping machines andto cover presses and is illustrated herein as embodied in a combinedcover press and strapper. While my invention has wide utility it isespecially useful in the lidding and strapping of boxes packed withfresh farm products, such as citrus fruits. For this reason theembodiment illustrated herein is especially designed f this purpose.

In the citrus industry the crown pack is used in which the fruit extendsabove the top of the box and causes the lid to be bowed upwardly in themiddle when its ends are brought down and nailed to the ends of the box.The shipping boxes used in this industry have a middle partition, and ithas long been the custom to reinforce the lid by a strap extendingacross this and secured at its opposite ends to the sides of the box bynails driven into the middle partition.

For some time lids were applied-to packed boxes in all citrus packinghouses by foot power cover presses which would press the lid down withits ends in position for nailing and these ends would then be nailed tothe box by hand. After each box had thus been lidded it was strappedwith a piece of ribbon strap secured to the sides of the box by nailsdriven into the middle partition thereof by hand.

To increase the efiiciency of the lidding and strapping operation,chines, automatic strapping machines, and combined automatic lidding andstrapping machines have been developed. These machines are fairlyexpensive, however, and accordingly are adapted for use only in thelarger packing houses. This development has left the smaller packinghouses with nothing but the old hand method of lidding and strappingtheir boxes.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a relativelyinexpensive but eflicient apparatus for accomplishing the lidding andstrapping of packed boxes of fresh farm produce.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined cover pressand strapper which is relatively inexpensive and by which the cover maybe pressed on the box to permit its being nailed by hand and by whichthe cover may then be strapped relatively quickly and easily asccmparedwith the hand strapping method formerly in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved foot,power operated cover press embodying a power operated strapper.

Most of the automatic strapping machines automatic lidding madevelopedto date use wire strap, the ends of which are pointed and driven intothe middle partition of the box to secure these ends to the sides of thebox. The wire strap has many advantages over the ribbon strap formerlyused; in that it may be readily taken out to permit inspection of thefruit en route to market and replaced thereafter without damaging thebox. It is accordingly a still further object of my invention to providean inexpensive cover press and strapper or an inexpensive strapper byitself, by which wire strap may be applied in the strappingoperation.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects and advantages, aswell as further ob- .iects and advantages will be made manifest in thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of Fig. l at a reduced scale.-

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 .is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts of the machine in adifferent operating position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the completion of the liddingand strapping operation.

Fig, 7 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the line' 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of Fig. 2 takenin the direction of the arrow 8.

Fig.9 is a. fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view takenon theline 99 of'. Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken onthe line 1010 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken onthe line 11-11 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a enlarged fragmentary detail view of the operating cylinderof the invention, this being partly broken away to show the constructionthereof.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic sectional detail view illustrating the mannerin which the jaw operating mechanism is connected to the jaws of myinvention.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a; modified form of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional operation view taken on'the line 1'5--15 ofFig. 14.

Referring specifically to-the drawings, and. particularly to Figs. 1, 2,and 3, my invention is here shown as embodied in a combined cover pressand strapper 15 which rests upon a floor 16 and includes a frame 17. Theframe 17 includes corner posts 18 connected by base bars 19 at theirlower ends and by a conveyer 20 at their upper ends. The frame 17 isrendered rigid by braces 21.

The conveyer 20 includes rear and front cross members 22 and 23 and endmembers 24. Pivotally mounted between the members 22 and 23 are rollers25 upon which a box 26 is adapted to be supported. Mounted on the rearconveyer bar 22 and extending upwardly therefrom is a box guide plate30. Secured to the rear face of this plate and extending downwardly tothe floor Where they are connected with the rear base bar 19 is a pairof guide members 31. Lower portions of the guide members 31 are in theform of angle irons and are connected together by front and rear guidebars 33. Extending rearwardly from lower portions of the guide members31 are V-shaped fulcrum supports 35 which are connected at their apexesby a bolt 36 the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

Formed on upper ends of the guide members 31 are yoke guides 38, theseguides having channel guide ways 39 formed in inner faces thereof for apurpose to be made clear hereinafter.

The guides 38 are reinforced by flanges 40 which are continuations ofthe longitudinal flanges of the angle iron lower portions of the guidemembers 31.

Formed on upper ends of the guides 38 are studs upon which are rotatablymounted a pair of cam roller arms 46, these being held in place on thestuds 45 by cap screws 47. The arms 46 have rearward extensions 48between which is mounted-a cam roller 49. Formed on the arms 46 toextend sidewardly therefrom are lugs 53 having holes 54 through whichbolts 55 mounted in the flanges 40 extend. Surrounding the bolts 55 andheld against the lugs 53 by nuts 56 on the ends of these bolts arecompression springs 58 which yieldably retain the arms 46 in thepositions in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

Slidable between the guide members 31 and the front and rear guide lugs33 is a main slide bar 60. The bar 60 has a strapper supporting yoke 61formed integral with the upper end thereof. The yoke 61 includes a pairof legs 62 which slide snugly in the gufdeways 39 of the guides 38.Extending forwardly from the upper ends of the legs 62 is a pair ofhorizontal arms 65 which are connected at their forward ends by aninverted U-shaped neck 66.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 it is noted that oppositelydisposed pairs of strapper supporting lugs 67 are formed on the arms 65so as to extend inwardly therefrom. Also formedon the arms 65 are pairsof guide lugs 68 which extend inwardly 'as shown in this figure. Formedon the arms 65 and extending outwardly therefrom are bearing brackets70. Provided on upper ends of the slide legs 62 and extending rearwardlytherefrom are short projections 72 which are connected by an invertedU-shaped neck 73. The projections 72 have outwardly extending bearinglugs 74 formed integrally therewith.

Also provided on the main slide bar 60 is a pair of bearing lugs 78which arebest Shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8 and the purpose of which willbe made clear hereinafter.

While the bar 60 is slidable vertically it is normally held in its upperposition by a foot operated mechanism 80. This mechanism includes aratchet bar 81 mounted on the frame 17 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.Secured to the lower end of the guide bar 60 is a bracket 85. Rotatablysupported on the bolt 36 is a foot pedal lever 87 which extendsforwardly past the ratchet member 81 and has a pawl 88 which is springpressed to engage with the teeth of the ratchet member 81. On theextreme front end of the lever 87 is mounted a foot pedal 89. Connectingthe bracket 85 with the lever 87 is a link 90. Extending rearwardly fromone of the guide members 31 is a rearwardly extending arm 91. and thearm 91 so as to yieldably support the slide bar 60 is a tension spring92. The strength of this spring is sufficient to maintain the bar 60 andits associated parts in their uppermost position excepting when thelever 87 is depressed by the operator placing his weight on the footpedal 89.

Pivotally mounted between the bearing arms 78 is a strap jaw operatingarm 95 having a cam face-96 which bears against the roller 49.

As shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a lid depressing means 100 is mountedon the arms 65, this means including shafts 102, which are journalled inthe bearing lugs and 74 and have arms 103 extending laterally therefromand having. provided on their ends lid contacting bars 104.

The shafts 102 are retained in the bearings 70 and '74 by collars 105.Fixed to the rear ends of the shafts 102 are arms 107 which extendupwardly and are connected by an extensible turnbuckle link 108. It isthus seen that the link 108 connects the shafts 102 so that for these tobe rocked in the bearings 70 and 74, they must be rocked together.

Mounted on the yoke 61 between the arms 65 thereof is a strapping device115. This device includes a saddle bar 10''! having side plates 118which are shaped as clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive and areconnected together by being secured to opposite faces of a spacer bar119. The plates 118 are provided with laterally extending lugs 120 attheir lower outer extremities. The lugs 120 are disposed directly belowthe lugs 67 on the yoke arms 65 and are connected to the lugs 6'7 bybolts 122 which support the strapping device 115. Coiled about thebolts'122 between the lugs 67 and 120 are compression springs 123 whichyieldably hold the strapping device 115 in its lower position.

' Also formed on the plates 118 to extend vertically thereacross areguide fins 125, these being slidably disposed between the lugs 68 whichare formed on the yoke arms 65.

As shown best in Fig. 10, spacers 130 are rigidly held in place betweenend portions of the plates 118 by bolts 131. Pivotally mounted on thespacers 130 are jaws 133 and 134. These jaws being identical,description of the jaw 133 will suffice for both.

The jaw 133 includes a pair of plates 136 which are held in spacedrelation by spacers 137 and 138 and a driver stop 139. The lower ends ofthe plates 136 are bent outwardly to form strap guides 140. One of theplates 136 extends upwardly and has a slide block 141 rotatably mountedthereon.

Connected to the lever 87 For identification the parts of the jaw 134will be referred to by numerals which exceed by a value of ten the valueof the numerals used hereinabove to indicate corresponding parts of thejaw 133. That is, the jaw 134 includes side plates 146, spacers 147 and148, a strap driver' stop 149, strap guide 150, and a rotatable slideblock 151.

Rigidly secured in place between the plates 118 is a block 160 uponwhich is pivotally mounted a short lever 161 from opposite ends of whichrods 162 and 163 extend so as to pass through the rotatable slide blocks141 and 151 provided on the jaws 133 and 134. Fixed on the rod 163 is acollar 165 and coiled about this rod between this collar and the slideblock 151 is a compression spring 166. rod 163, where it connects withthe lever 161, and to a lug 168 provided on one of the yoke arms 65 is atension spring 169 the function of which is to yieldably urge the jaws133 and 134 into their extended positions in which they are shown inFig. 4.

Disposed between the plates 136 and 146 of the jaws 133 and 134 andpivoted on spacers 130 are drivers 170 which are shaped as shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6. These drivers have driving faces 172 and extendupwardly above the upper ends of the jaws 133 and 134 where they arepivotally connected to piston rods 175 of an operating cylinder 176. Therods 175 extend through caps 177 of the cylinder 176and are providedwith pistons 178 on their inner ends. Disposed about the piston rods 175between the cylinder caps 177 and the pistons 178 'are compressionsprings 180. The cylinder 176 cates with the interior of the cylinder176 and with each of a pair of hoses 187 and 188 with which the fitting185 is provided. Connecting with the bottom of the cylinder 176 at itsopposite ends is an air release pipe 190 which" tively;

Mounted in any convenient place, as on the floor 16, is a fluid powerunit 210 which includes an electric motor 211 and a pump 212 connectedthereto, this pump having an inlet end 213 and an exhaust end 214.Provided on the pump at its inlet end is an oil reservoir 216 and avalve 217. The hose 201is connected to the pump 212 at' its exhaust end214. The hose .202 is connected to the valve 217, and the hose 203-leadsto the upper end of the reservoir 216.

The valve 217 has an operating arm 220 which is connected .by a link 221to the inner end of a lever 222 havinga weight 223 which normallyretains this lever in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Withthe arm 220 held downward as shown in this figure the valve 217 is open.When it is depressed as shown in Fig. 6 the valve 217 is closed.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Connected to the.

The combined cover press and strapper 15 is adapted to be disposedadjacent to the discharge end of a-conveyer system (not shown) whichdischarges packed boxes 26 onto the conveyer 20 of the device.

During the operation of the device 15 the foot pedal 222 is in downwardposition as shown in Fig. 2 and the motor 211 operates continuously. As.the valve 217 is open at this time the pump 212 continually draws asupply of oil from the hose 202 or the reservoir 216 and discharges thisinto the hose 201. From the hose 201 this oil passes upwardly throughthe.

pipe 197, the hose 187, the fitting .185, the hose 188,, the pipe 198,and the hose 202 from which it is discharged through the valve 217 intothe intake end of the pump 213.

This circulation of oil is for the purpose of utilizing the power of themotor 211 in operating the strap drivers 170. This is accomplished byclosing the valve 217 in which event there is only one available outletfor the oil pumped into the hose 201 by the pump 212 and that is theinterior chamber 224 of the cylinder 176 with which the fitting 185connects. When the valve 217 is closed therefore, the oil discharged bythe pump 212 enters the chamber 224 and very rapidly separates thepistons 178 which actuates the drivers 170 in a manner which will bedescribed hereinafter.

Prior to the introduction of a box 26onto the conveyer 20 the operatortakes a strap 231 which consists of a relatively straight piece of wirewith pointed driving ends 232 formed on its ends, and lifts this strapupwardly into position in the strapper 115 as shown in Fig. 4.

When a box 26 is brought into the cover press and strapper 15 it isfirst pushed against the guide plate 30 with its left end disposedagainst a stop 230 provided on this guide plate as shown in Fig. 3. Thebox is now properly positioned for being lidded and strapped by thedevice 15. After the strap and the crown packed box have been thuspositioned a cover 233 is placed over the box as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3.

To begin the lidding and strapping of the box thev operator puts hisfoot on the pedal 89 and depresses the lever 87 from the position inwhich it is shown in 4 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5.This pulls the slide bar 60 downward'against the action of the spring 92and the "resulting action of the roller 49 on the cam surface 96 of thearm 95 is to swing the arm 95 inward as shown in Fig. 5. As .the upperend of the arm 95 always engages the spacer'137 of the strapper jaw 133,this jaw is swung inwardly and this movement is transmitted to the jaw134 through the lever 161, the rods 162 and 163, and the spring 166, sothat the jaw 134 isswung inwardly to the position in which it is shownin Fig. 5. Owing to the roller 49 being yieldably held inward spring166, the jaw 134 is yieldably held against a the lever 87 in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 5. This position is separatelyillustrated merely to show that the strap 231 is shaped as shown in Fig.5 by the jaws 133 and 134 swingdownward movement of the 'arm 8'7continues into the position in which it is shown in Fig.

. 6, the bars 104 move down against the lid 233 and press the ends of'the lid firmly against.

the ends of the box 26, yet leaving theends of the lid uncovered fornailing to the box by hand.

When the saddle bar 117 first reaches the position in which it is shownin Fig. 6 the driving ends 232 of the strap 231 are'still positionedwithin the jaws 133 and 134 as shown in Fig. 5. As soon as the saddlebar 117 is positioned as shown in Fig. 6, therefore, the operatorreleases his foot from the pedal 89 and depresses the fiuid powercontrol arm 222, as shown in this figure. As above described, thiscauses oil from the line 187 to pour into the cylinder chamber. 224 andrapidly impel the pistons 178 toward their respective ends of thischamber. The result of this movement is the swinging of the strapdrivers 170 to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6, thusdriving the pointed strap ends 232 into the middle partition of the box26 and finally securing the strap 232 in place. 7

As the driving of the strap ends only takes a matter of a second for itscompletion the operator can accomplish this merely by stepping on thepedal 222 while starting to nail one end of the lid 232 onto the box 26.

Upon completing the hand nailing of both ends of the lid 232 to the box26 the operator presses his foot on the foot pedal 89 and depresses thelatch 88 so as to permit the spring 92 to lift the guide bar 60 andmechanism connected .therewith to its'upper position in which 'it isshown in Fig. 4. The box 26 just operated upon is now completely liddedand strapped ready for market and is pushed on. the conveyer. 20 onto adischarge conveyerprovided to receive it.

Attention is called to the fact illustrated in Fig. 6, that the strap231 after it is shaped does not come in contact with the lid 233 untilthe pedal arm 87 is released by the operator and the lid 233 is allowedto expand upwardly. This is accomplished by shaping'the strap 231entirely by compressing it into the strapper 115 which insures that itwill have a uniformshape after the box has been strapped. This would notbe the case were the strap to-be formed over the cover 233 which isusually made of very thin material and is therefore easily damaged ordistorted. The shaping of the strap in this manner also gives all theboxes a uniform appearance which adds to their salability at themarket..

A complete cycle of operation of the combined cover press and strapper15 having been described I w-ill now refer to Figs. 14 and 15 fordisclosure of a modified form of combined cover press and strapper 250in which the strap drivers are hand operated. The construction of thedevice 250 is identical to that of the device 15 with the exception thatthe mechanism for hydraulically operating the strap drivers 170 iseliminated from the device 250 and a hand mechanism 251 foraccomplishing this purpose is substituted therefor.

The mechanism '251 includes a lever 252 which is pivotally mounted on ashaft 253 provided on the saddle bar 117. The lever 252 has a -bing thehandle 254 on the upper end of the lever 252, and pulling this leverforwardly into its dotted line position 260. This drives the strapends-into the box 26 whereupon the operator releases the handle 254allowing the spring 257 to return the lever 252 and associated partsinto the full line positions in which they are shown in Fig. 15. Whenthe lever 87 is nowreleased and the strapping device 115 moves upwardlyso that the jaws 133 and 134 of the device 250 assume the same extendedpositions as the correspondingly numbered jaws of the device 15 do inFig. 4, the spring 257 still further contracts so as to maintain thestrap drivers 170 in retracted position against the stops 139.

From the foregoing descriptions of the two embodiments 15 and 250 of myinvention it is to be seen that I have provided a very inexpensivemachine for rapidly accomplishing both the lidding and strapping ofboxes packed with fresh farm produce and which therefore will be ofgreat utility in small packing houses which cannot afford to buy therelatively expensive power operated lidders and strappers such as arenow in general use in the larger packing houses.

What I claim is:

1. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to movedownwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid isbowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the boxends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said liddepressing means and moving downwardly therewith to position a strapover a middle portion of said lid and secure ends of said strap to saidbox.

2. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to movedownwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid isbowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the boxends in position to be nailed thereto, said means leaving the lid endsuncovered to permit them to be nailed to the box by hand; and meansmounted on said lid -depressing means and moving downwardly therewith toposition a strap over a middle portion of said lid and secure ends ofsaid strap to said box.

3. In a cover press, the combination of: means adapted to movedownwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid isbowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the boxends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said liddepressing means and moving downwardly therewith as a unit to position awire strap over a middle portion of said lid and drive opposite ends ofsaid strap into said box. Q

t 4. In a" cover press, the combination of: means adapted tomovedownwardly to press a lid onto a crown packed box so that the lid isbowed up in the middle and ends of the lid are held down against the boxends in position to be nailed thereto; and means mounted on said liddepressing means and moving downwardly to position a wire straptransversely over a middle portion of said lid, shape side edges of saidlid downwardly, shape said strap to conform to said lid, and driveopposite ends of said strap into said box. I a V 5. In combination: aframe; a platform on said frame for receiving a box; a verticallyreciprocable member to the rear of said platform; means disposed beneathsaid platform for reciprocating said member; means supported entirely onsaid reciprocating member and extending forwardly over said platform fordepressing a lid to position the latter forbeing nailed to said boxwhensaid member is moved downwardly; means on said lid depressing meansfor positioning a strap across the lid and securing the ends of saidstrap to said box.

6. A combination as in claim 5 in which a yoke is provided on the upperend of said reciprocable member,'said strap applying means being mountedbetween the arms of said yoke.

'7. A combination as in claim 5 in which a yoke is provided on the upperend of said reciprocable member, said strap applying means being mountedbetween the arms of said yoke, so as to be yieldable vertically relativeto said yoke.

8. A combination as in claim 1 in which said strap positioning andsecuring means is mountedfor yieldable vertical movement on said liddepressing means.

9. A combination as in claim lin which said strap positioning andsecuring means includes a pair of jaws which are adapted to be broughtinwardly to shape and position said strap relative to said lid; andmeans actuated by the depression of said lid depressing means to swingsaid jaws inwardly and shape said strap.

10. In a strapping device the combination of: means for supporting apacked box; a saddle bar disposed transversely above said box; strapguiding and shaping jaws movablymounted on said saddle bar for shiftinginwardly to shape a strap; means for bringing said box supporting meansand said saddle bar closer together to position a strap adjacent the lidof said box; means responsive to said last mentioned movement to shiftone of said jaws inwardly; means connecting said jaws to cause the otherof said jaws to be shifted inwardly in response to the inward movementof the first mentioned jaw; and means to secure ends of the strap, thusshaped, to sides of said box.

11. In a strap applying mechanism the combination of: means to support apacked box with a lid disposed thereover; means including a pair ofjawsfor supporting a strap in upwardly bowed conformation transverselyabove said lid, moving downwardly with said strap and shaping endportions of said strap inwardly adjacent sides of said box in readinessto be driven thereinto; and driving means for driving opposite ends ofsaid strap into said box.

12. In a strap applying mechanism the combination of: means to support apacked .box with a lid disposed thereover; means for supporting a straptransversely above said lid, moving downwardly with said strap, and,independently of contact with said lid, shaping end portions of saidstrap inwardly adjacent sides of said box in readiness to be driventhereinto; and driving means for driving opposite ends of said strapinto'said box.

18. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by astrap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverseplane, the combination of a frame; a table on said frame for supportingsaid packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover inreadiness to be strapped to said box; 'a vertically movable elementprovided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portions of astrap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said 7 box; means tosecure the strap ends to said box sides; a member extending across saidcover and uniting said aforementioned means in a vertically movablestrapper unit, said unit being mounted on said element; and means fordepressing said element to shift said strapper unit downward into properrelation with said cover and said box to perform a strapping operation.

14. In a machine for strapping a. cover to an overfilled packed box by astrap applied across a middle portion of said cover in a transverseplane, the combination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supportingsaid packed box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover inreadiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movable elementprovided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portions of astrap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said box; means tosecure. the strap ends to said box sides; cover shaping means extendingacross said cover and uniting said aforementioned means to form astrapper unit, said unit being mounted on said vertically movableelement; and means for depressing said element to shift said strapperunit downward into proper relation with said cover and said box to shapesaid cover transversely beneath said strap and perform a strappingoperation.

15. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by astrap having integral.

driving ends and applied acrossa middle portion of said cover in atransverse plane, the combination of: a frame; a-table on said frame forsupporting said packed box in upright position with a cover disposedthereover in readiness to be strapped to said box; a vertically movableelement provided on said frame; means to confine opposite end portionsof a strap in said plane and adjacent opposite sides of said box; meansto drive the strap ends into said box sides; cover shaping meansextending across said cover and uniting said aforementioned means toform a strapper unit, said unit being mounted on said vertically movableelement; and means for depressing said element to shift said strapperunit downward into proper relation with said cover and said box to shapesaid cover transversely beneath said strap and perform a strappingelement provided on said frame; a cover shaping bar mounted on saidelement'and adapted when the latter is depressed, to shape the covertransversely, with said-strap lying between said bar .and said cover,the driving ends of said strap extending laterally beyond the coveredges;-

drivers mounted on opposite ends of said cover shaping bar for driving.saidstrap ends into sides'of said box, said bar and drivers beingvertically movable as a unit; means for actuating said element todepress said unit into operative relation with said box and cover; andmeans for actuating said drivers after the resistance of said cover tofurther transverse shaping thereof substantially halts the downwardmovement of said bar.

17. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by astrap having integral attaching ends, the .combination of z a frame; atable on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright positionwith a cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to said box;a vertically movable element provided on said frame; means provided onsaid frame and said element and operative, when the latter is depressed,to shape said cover transversely and confine a middle portion of saidstrap adjacent to and transversely of said cover and substantiallyconforming to the shape of said cover; means provided on the aforesaidmeans to support said driving ends of said strap and push said strapupwardly relative to the aforesaid means and centralize said strap onits longitudinal axis relative to said box when said element isdepressed; means under the control of the operator for depressing saidelement; and means for driving said strap ends into opposite sides ofsaid box when said strap is so centralized.

18. In a machine for strapping a cover to an overfilled packed box by astrap having integral driving ends and applied across a middle portionof said cover in a transverse plane, the combination of: a frame; atable on said frame for supporting said packed box in upright positionwith the cover disposed thereover in readiness to be strapped to saidbox; a vertically movable element provided on said frame; a covershaping bar mounted on said element and extending transversely over saidcover; strap confining extensions provided on opposite ends of said barand extending downwardly opposite upper portions of the sides of saidbox when said element is depressed, there being relatively deep narrowrecesses provided in said extensions and lying in said plane forconfining end portions of said strap in said plane, said bar and saidextensions comprising a unit; means under the control of the operatorfor depressing said element to depress said unit into operative relationwith said cover and said box; and means pivotally mountedoverfilledpacked box by a strap having integral drivingends and appliedacross a middle portion of said cover in a transverse plane with thestrap ends driven into opposite sides of the box, the combination of acompact strapping unit lying in said plane and movable vertically downward onto said cover and said box so as to overlie the areas againstwhich said strap is to be applied, there being guideways in the portionsof said unit lying opposite, the sides of said box for confining saidstrap in said plane during the movement of said unit into operativerelation with said cover and said box; means under the control of theoperator for governing the vertical movement of said unit; and meansoperative when said unit is so depressed to expel strap driving endsfrom said guideways into the sides of said box.

20. In a machine for securing covers on crown packed boxes, thecombination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting a crownpacked box in upright position with a cover disposed thereover; meansvertically movable on said frame to press said cover onto said box;means carried on said pressing means to automatically position a coversecuring member, having a pointed end, in position to permit said end tobe driven into said box when said cover is pressed on said box; fluidpower means including a cylinder and a piston carried on said pressingmeans for driving said pointed end into said box; and flexible conduitmeans for conducting fluid under pressure from a suitable power sourceto said fluid power means.

21. In a machine for securing covers on crown packed boxes, thecombination of: a frame; a table on said frame for supporting a crownpacked box in upright position with a cover dis-' posed thereover; meansvertically movable on said frame to press said cover onto said box;means carried on said pressing means to automatically position a coversecuring strap, having pointed ends, across said cover, in position topermit said ends to be driven into said box when said cover is pressedon said box; fluid power means including a cylinder and a piston carriedon said pressing means-for driving said pointed ends into said box; andflexible conduit means for conducting fluid under pressure from asuitable power source to said fluid power means.

HALE PAX'roN.

